St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-24

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! liceman who had made the arrest.
Stealing purse. your honor"
| "Ah! that is serious charge"
but, sir, It ain't''-
''Never mind, my little man; your
| turn will come. Let the party who
made the complaint stand forward"
! A tall man, clad in clerical garments,
with long drawn visage, stepped for
ward. The corners of his trap-like
mouth were drawn down in most
solemn expression. He clasped his
| hands in front of him. and turned his
eyes upon the little waits. as though
even their presence was unholy to his
| cloth.
Your name?" uttered the Judge.
''Rev. Abraham Clearstarch.'
| Bottles could hardly hold in the tit
ter, whick, Notwithstanding the solem-
nifty of the occasion, was ready to bub-
ble from his lips.
| You are a minister. are you nOtr'
The reverend gentleman bowed.
"Mr. ClearStarch, you may state your
case in as few words as possible"
"Yes, sir. Day before yesterday after
noon purchased ring for my daugh-
ter. l put the ring into my pnrse and
| walked down to India wharf upon busi-
| ness. Upon returning to my hotel L
found that my parse was gone. l re-
traced my steps; but to 10 avail: | could
not find my purse. Yesterday afternoon
at dinner in the hotel where | was stop
ping | saw the ring upon the finger of
| this girl. | recognized the ring, and
! knew at once that she must know Of
! the purse. l left the dining-roOm,
found an officer and had him make the
arrest The girl picked my pocket"
''Sure of that, Mr.. Clearstarch?" asked
| his honor"
'.She must have done so. l certainly
could not have lost it, responded the
reverend gentleman.
"Was the purse and ring found upon
the person of the culprit?' asked the
| judge of the officer.
The ring was upon the girls finger,
! the purse in the boys pockett."
Bad case. Now, my little man, tell
! your story"
''If you please, sir, I'm only boy,
times and-maybe you wouldn't believe
me. She'll tell you all bout it. You
see, she's only a little girl what hain't
| got no friend in all the world but Bottles
| Bottles is me, sir. Rags is her name.
She never swearS and-she never picked
his pockets. l know that, 'cause I'm
| her father. you see"
/ Bottles had found his tongue and he
delivered the foregoing in a straight
| forward way, which made the judge
| smile gOOd-naturedly.
Now, Rags, tell it all. Don't be
| feared. The gospel sharp can't hurt
! u.s." whispered Bottles to the trembling
| girl by his side.
With frequent sobs and choking ex-
! clamatiOns Rags told her story, which
Won olrao6u EpOW She o1CO told how
good Bottles had been to her; how he
| had often gone without anything to eat
| so that she could have food. In all, she
gave a faithful picture of the peculiar
life which surrounded the pair. The
Judge was assured of her truth, and
after she had ceased, he said:
Its evident that the girl has told
what is true. Is there any one in the
room acquainted with the pair?" A
sleek, fat, jOlly-loOking man stepped
forward and said:
Il know them, your honor. keep
butcher shop down in South street. A
newSboy came and told ME last night
that Bottles and Rags had been arrested.
Your honor, / stand here to say, from
the bottom of my heart, that know both
of them to be honest, square and up
right. They are unfortunate children
of the street who make an honest liv-
ing. hope you honor won't be hard
on the two poor little kids"
"They are both discharged. Mr..
Clearstarch, you will get your purse and
ring of the clerk. One thing more
you'll not find the whole amount. The
cashier of the Crawford restaurant just
sent me a note, telling how the two
little unfortunates enjoyed their
Thanksgiving dinner at his place yes
terday. OF course, having recovered
your property, you will willingly do
nate that dinner for charity's sake.
Next"
Rev. Abraham Clearstarch got his
purse and ring, and went on his way.
And Bottles and Rags found in
kindly stranger who had been present
friend in whom philanthropy was
largely developed. The pair are, this
day of Thanksgiving, eating a noble
dinner at home in one of our great
Western states.
At last the two waits, Bottles and
Rags, are safely harbored from the
sterner blows of pOverty.-H. S. Kel-
ler in Commercial Travellers Magazine.